Wine press review for Tuesday, May 5, 2026!

Italian wineries

Maia Wine becomes entirely owned by Cielo e Terra. The Veneto sparkling wine brand becomes 100% owned by Cielo e Terra, following the acquisition of the remaining 50% from Angelo Lella. This transaction consolidates the journey begun in 2021 and strengthens the brand's presence in Italian and international distribution.

Siddùra awarded for the quality of its vineyards. The Gallura winery received the Bigot Index Gold Award at Vinitaly 2026 for some of its Vermentino vineyards. This recognition confirms the value of agronomic work and vineyard management as the foundation of winemaking quality.

Kettmeir reopens with a new cellar and welcome trail. The historic Alto Adige winery, part of Herita Marzotto Wine Estates, inaugurates new production and aging spaces. The goal is to support the growth of Alto Adige's Metodo Classico and gradually increase production from 140,000 to 300,000 bottles.

Castello di Monsanto and the 2023 Chianti Classico The 2023 Chianti Classico confirms the elegant and territorial style of Monsanto, a symbol of the Black Rooster. The pioneering choice of the “Il Poggio” Cru, the first major bottled reference of the denomination, is historic.

Sass Griss Winery opens in Val di Non. A new winery, focused on Piwi grape varieties, is born in Coredo at 900 meters above sea level. The project combines sustainability, resistance to fungal diseases, and the valorization of a region that has until now been more closely tied to apples than to vines.

Pileum Winery and Tenuta Le Quinte at Cantine Aperte 2026. In Lazio, wineries are offering tours, tastings, music, art, and tours of vineyards and cellars, confirming the growing role of wine tourism as a tool for networking and promotion.

Italian wine and Italian oenology

Downy Mildew: Zoxamide as a Flexible Technical Solution Zoxium® 240 SC is presented as a liquid formulation based on zoxamide for the control of downy mildew on grapevines. The product fits into modern control strategies, with a focus on efficacy, sustainability, and residual profile.

Nitrogen fertilizers under pressure. Nitrogen fertilizer prices are rising sharply due to tensions in energy and logistics markets. This is a significant challenge for agricultural companies, especially during the spring planting season.

Agrivoltaics and wine: Puglia experiments with a new model. The first Italian agrivoltaic wines, made from Falanghina, Traminer Aromatico, and Primitivo, show interesting results. The microclimate created by the systems promotes freshness, aromatic balance, and more even ripening.

Agricultural drones: mind the rules. An entrepreneur has been reported for the unauthorized use of an agricultural drone near Cuneo-Levaldigi Airport. The case highlights the importance of licensing, insurance, and compliance with ENAC regulations.

Custoza DOC holds firm. The Verona appellation continues to maintain good stability, with 72,178 hectoliters bottled in 2025, equivalent to approximately 9.6 million bottles. Inventories at historic lows and more rigorous management strengthen the positioning of this Garda white wine.

Sagrantino di Montefalco, identity and renewal. The great Umbrian red continues to evolve without losing its soul. Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG has 380 hectares of vineyards and 1.3 million bottles produced by 2025, with a growing focus on organic farming and sustainability.

Wine is being drunk differently in restaurants. The bottle at the table is losing its centrality. Prices, new cultural sensitivities, health, and roadside checks are changing consumption habits, forcing the industry to rethink service, formats, and offerings.

Wine tourism: hospitality becomes a driver of growth. Italian wineries are transforming tastings, architecture, cuisine, and art into valuable tools. The Italian model of winery hospitality is proving to be a concrete response to the pressure on traditional consumption.

Vigneto Italia at Rome's Botanical Garden. An extreme urban vineyard has been created in Rome, covering approximately 520 square meters within the Botanical Garden, near the Aurelian Walls and the Janiculum Hill. A symbolic project combining urban agriculture, biodiversity, and climate change.

International

Bordeaux and the paradigm shift: less investment, more immediate consumption According to Millésima, the Bordeaux market is going through a complex phase: fewer investment bottles are being purchased and the “fast wine” model is growing, with wines sought after for rapid consumption, greater drinkability and more accessible prices.

Resilient viticulture: Italy brings research to Patagonia. The University of Padua participated in a workshop in Argentina on climate, drones, remote sensors, and new viticultural paradigms. The goal is to transfer Italian expertise for more sustainable viticulture adapted to climate change.

French wine loses ground in the US. In 2025, the average price of French AOP wine exported to the United States dropped by 11.8%. Bordeaux, Languedoc-Roussillon, and Champagne are suffering particularly badly, a sign of a structural shift in the American market.

Crémant is growing in Italy. French Classic Method production outside of Champagne has grown in Italy from 450,000 to over 2.5 million bottles in four years. Italian consumers are increasingly open to French sparkling wines with a good quality-price ratio.

AB InBev beats expectations in the first quarter of 2026. The beer giant posted revenue of $15.3 billion and better-than-expected results. This is also a positive sign for the beverage sector, where large groups continue to demonstrate their ability to adapt.

Wine events

Envisioning2035 returns to Milan. The second edition of Envisioning2035 – Wine [R]evolution will be held on June 4, 2026, at the Terrazza Belvedere of Palazzo Lombardia. The focus will be on competitiveness, consumption, markets, sustainability, digital technology, and the positioning of Italian wine.

Only Wine promotes young producers and small wineries. The thirteenth edition of Città di Castello recorded a 40% attendance. The event confirms its role as an important showcase for new generations, small businesses, and the younger audience.

The Academy of Vine and Wine inaugurates its 77th Academic Year. On May 5th, in Rome, the Academy will address the theme of change in the world of wine, encompassing tradition, innovation, and structural transformations in the supply chain.

Rose Books Music Wine in Trieste From May 8 to 29, 2026, the initiative combining culture, music, wine and territory returns to the San Giovanni Park, also with space for resistant vines and winemakers devoted to respecting the land.

Nizza is Barbera 2026 From 8 to 11 May, Nizza Monferrato celebrates Barbera with an event increasingly oriented towards young people, international visitors and new wine languages.

San Giorgio di Vino 2026 On May 9th and 10th, the market-exhibition returns to San Giorgio di Piano with over 60 wineries, guided tastings, producers, street food and crafts.

Prosecco Superiore Spring The events between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene continue this weekend, with the 50th Exhibition of Torchiato and Colli di Conegliano DOCG wines in Fregona.

Final summary

Today's review showcases a wine industry in full swing: acquisitions, new wineries, agrivoltaics, resilient grape varieties, wine tourism, and digital technologies are reshaping the sector. The market demands greater flexibility, greater identity, and a greater ability to adapt to change. Those who can combine quality, management, hospitality, and a commercial vision can transform this complex phase into a concrete opportunity for growth.